No comments about They Call Me Super Mex.

5 comments about Q School Confidential: Inside Golf's Cruelest Tournament.

1. While there are interesting facts to be gleaned from this book, it is way too disjointed to read comfortably. I literally got lost as I was reading more than a few times in the first couple of chapters alone, as the author jumps around without properly tying the disparate parts of a story into a cohesive narrative. I gave up trying to read the book in its natural order, and jumped around in search of points of interest.
   
   I get the sense that the author went back and forth while editing the book, and somehow got lost himself when he tried to add more sub-stories within each chapter. If there was no professional editor for this book, then that explains the quality of the final product.
   
   Final Analysis: It is very difficult to read, but some of the stories and facts are worth the price of the book. It's just too bad that the reader has to work so hard to find them.



2. Most golf writing is non-fiction, often because to write a novel centered on golf would probably be one of the least interesting reads around. Much of the non-fiction writing that tells a story, though, just like a novel, has its harrowing moments where our heros battle the odds to somehow come out on top (or as close as they can get to it, which is still better than most of us).
   
   Q School Confidential makes us wish we were reading fiction. The stories about the few greats that went through and kept fighting are few and far between. Most of the focus is on those people whose name remains only as a record held by the PGA. Gould hunted as many of them down as he could, it seems, to get as full a picture of what is termed the cruelest tournament in golf as possible.
   
   For someone who plays to a single-digit handicap and thinks, just maybe, they have what it takes, this is good medicine. Many of the names we see on the leaderboards at tournaments never had to run this gauntlet. For those that did, and survived, their future is far from assured.
   
   Well researched and easily read, the only weakness is that it can become monotonous to read. A chapter every few days should help to keep one's attention, but this is not something to flip through before bedtime.



3. Gould is an excellent writer and researcher and this book shows it. The book definitely gives a satisfactory overview of Q School, whether you are just curious about it or a potential qualifier. The problem is that the book goes into far greater depth than the typical reader will care about and I found myself skimming large portions of it. I think most readers expected a book that dealt with today's Q School, how it works, and colorful anecdotes from the past years.

   However, the book is bloated with the school's history which I was not particularly interested in. In fact, the greater part of the book focused on the history, rather than the contemporary structure, which is what most of us are curious about.

   There isn't anything else like this out there to my knowledge, so if you are really curious about Q School then by all means buy it. But be prepared for less info about contemporary players you know and love, and more about the obscure and confusing history of Q School.




4. I picked this book up for some light, entertaining reading but the overall structure is so garbled that I gave up in the final chapter when I realized it had run out of time to improve.

   The beginning of this book tried to outline the history of the Q School, but jumped around in time so much that it was very difficult to get a good grasp on the chronology of events.

   There are lots of anecdotes as promised in the promo literature, but for the most part they each about 2-4 paragraphs long and not nearly in depth enough to get a sense of the characters involved. Some of them don't have a real point (Golfer A has 5 good rounds, he needs just one more to get his card and is very upset, he has a good round and the story becomes a non-story). They are strung together often in an unrelated way.

   Finally, the last third of the book is appendices showing results from all the Q-Schools in history - nice for historians, but extra weight to carry around for the casual reader. I guess it gives the book more heft when you're looking at it in the store.

   Some anecdotes are entertaining and I did learn a little about Q-School, so I did give up a couple stars.




5. If you've ever watched golf on television and thought "Yeah, I can do that," it's time to read Dave Gould's excellent, insightful, and entertaining account of how guys like you would really go about trying to qualify for the PGA Tour. Gould's stories and observations are funny and poignant, and his book captures all the drama and comedy of the people crazy and dedicated enough to try to earn a living playing professional golf. A must read for anyone who's ever thought that maybe, with a little more practice . . .

No comments about The Old Man: The Biography of Walter J. Travis.

1 comments about The Toronto Terror.

1. If you are a fan of Stanley Thompson's courses, this is a reference you will use constantly. Jim Barclay leads the reader through Stanley's life, then his courses, and he provided a reference of all of the courses with which Thompson was associated, including courses which are reported to be Thompson design, but are not.

2 comments about Golfing on the Roof of the World: In Pursuit of Gross National Happiness.

1. This is far too trite.....I've lived in Bhutan (Paro and Thimphu) for 18 mos. i.e. 2x as long as Rick Lipsey, who has written not only a romanticized version of his time in the Kingdom, but indeed a largely FICTIONAL account. I would invite any reader to visit Bhutan before reading this book - and judge for yourself thereafter. On the other hand, Lipsey is shrewdly catering to our modern American hunger for "meaning" in our lives.......but countless other authors do a far better job of that. Save your $20 and buy a box of golf balls instead, or give it to a homeless person right here in America.



2. 
   This is just delightful. A fascinating look inside the Kingdom of Bhutan. If you have traveled to Bhutan or want to, this look at "gross national happiness" is balanced and a must. I was reminded of Calvin Trillan's writings -- charming and wry.

2 comments about Only Golf Spoken Here: Memoirs of a Passionate Irish Golfer.

1. Ivan Morris's book, Only Golf Spoken Here, will entertain more than just passionate golfers. It is witty and thoughtful and gives even non-golfers a glimpse into what makes him so passionate about the game. I was charmed and hope to see more from Mr. Morris.



2. I have played golf in Ireland for sixteen years and many rounds with the author. His passion for golf is overwhelming. He knows the game from every point of view. He will entertain, educate and introduce you to some of the greatest courses in the world. The stories of some of Irelands golfers are the best part for me. They are his own experiences, not second hand. He has the Irish gift with words plus a major in journalism; a father newspaperman who could entertain you for hours with Irish stories and owns and operates a printing company. With that background he can't miss. This is his first book and I can guarentee it's only the begining. It reads easy. Just remember the Irish have the gift of blarney.

3 comments about Don'T Turn Your Back In The Barn Country Vet.

1. I can definately recommend this book, maybe not worth the cover price, but good if 2nd hand or from the library. Dr. Perrin's stories are funny, if you like Herriot, you will like this. However, I only gave it 4 stars because Perrin, while adequate, is not the most talented writer, and I found that the print in the book is very large and misrepresents how much text there actually is. I read through the book very quickly, I was hoping he would have packed more into the book. But still, it's a good read and has some good stories in it.



2. These books take you through hilarious and moving stories, real life stories of new veterinary in a little town. It inspires you to reach for your goals and never take no for an answer, great for inspiring vets or any animal lover!



3. This book is fascinating--stories from a rural vet in Canada, treating everything from cats to cows. The sad part is that Perrin isn't a very fluid writer, so it is sometimes a chore to get through.

   I had the sense that if Perrin had just dictated these stories and had worked with a good editor, it would have been a much better book.

2 comments about Arnie: Inside the Legend.

1. Larry Guest wasted his time writing this book, and you'll be wasting your time AND your money if you're foolish enough to buy a copy. This work is nothing more than a bunch of over-used annecdotes delivered up by a former Palmer groupie. It is not well researched, and it adds nothing to the current literature on Arnold Palmer. The writing is second-rate.



2. This book purports to be an objective account of the great Arnold Palmer's life and times on the professional golf tour. What it actually is, is a collection of hashed over insider non-jokes collected by a long time Palmer camp follower. There is very little meat on this bone.

   The writing style is simplistic and repetitive. The author takes 3 or 4 pages to describe, for example, Arnie's 50th birthday party which was a homestyle affair at which a country and western musician played for some of his close friends and neighbors while Palmer fielded congratulatory phone calls.

   An entire chapter is devoted to backhanding Palmer's great rival, Jack Nicklaus. It seems petty and unnecessary. I couldn't finish the book, maybe it gets better after the 4th chapter.

No comments about Joyce Wethered: The Great Lady of Golf.

2 comments about Champion in a Man's World: The Biography of Marion Hollins.

1. Marion Hollins is by far one of the most accomplished persons in American history. Her story is motivating and incredible. For anyone who doubts their ability to succeed, this is a must read.



2. Marion Hollins' life story is an amazing series of accomplishments, crowned by her design work at Cypress Point and Pasatiempo Golf Clubs. This is a 'must read' for Central Coast people who want to learn more about how Marion's dedication and determination influenced the formation of Pebble Beach and Pasatiempo during the '20s and '30s. Her tragic ending at an early age leaves the reader wondering what more she could have accomplished had she lived a bit longer.